Barack Obama delivers his statement at the White House (Image: Chris Kleponis/AFP/Getty Images)

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PRESIDENT Barack Obama last night vowed the individuals or groups responsible for the atrocity will be brought to justice.

And he told a White House news conference: “The American people will say a prayer for Boston tonight.

“Michelle and I send our deepest thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims in the wake of this senseless loss.”

Obama said “every single federal resource necessary” will be provided to care for the victims and their families.

He also praised the heroism of the emergency services who responded to the explosions.

The president stopped short of calling it an act of terror, saying: “We still do not know who did this or why and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts.

“But, make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this and we will find out who did this and we will find out why they did this.

“Any responsible individuals and any responsible groups will face the full weight of justice.”

Witnesses had earlier told of the carnage in the wake of the blasts.

Many said there was blood everywhere and that they saw people who had lost limbs.

Local TV reporter Jackie Bruno tweeted from the scene: “Two explosions. Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror.

Medical staff tend to the injured amid the chaos following the explosions (Image: Charles Krupa/AP)

“I saw people’s legs blown off. Horrific.”

Spectator John Ross told The Boston Herald newspaper: “Somebody’s leg flew by my head. I gave my belt to stop the blood.”

Runner Laura McLean, of Toronto, said she heard two explosions.

She added: “There are people who are really, really bloody. They were pulling them into the medical tent.”

Will Ritter, an aide for a Massachusetts Senate candidate, also told how he heard what sounded like two blasts and saw smoke rising near the Boston Public Library.

He added that he saw three fire engines and police running to the site.

“We heard two really large explosions in rapid succession, about a second apart,” Ritter said. “Everybody kind of ducked and hit the ground.”

Competitors and race organisers were crying as they fled the chaos. Many bloodied spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up for fatigued runners.

The tent was filled with many people who had been gravely injured. Police and emergency medical crews pushed their way through competitors who were completing the race to reach the injured.

Maria Stephanos, whose husband had just completed the race, said the explosion appeared to come from the inside of a building, rather than on the street.

“I was right there, I saw a plume of smoke coming from a building,” said Stephanos.

Many of those injured by the blasts were hit by flying debris as shops and offices had their windows blown out.

One of the blasts was captured on video. It showed several runners tumbling to the ground as spectators felt the full force of the explosion. Runners still out on the course when the blasts happened nearly three hours after the winners crossed the line were stopped by race organisers.

Ambulances arrived on the scene within minutes and runners and spectators could be seen crying and consoling each other.

Other witnesses said they found shotgun pellets in their clothing, adding to the theory it was a terror attack.

Chris Cassidy, a journalist who was running the marathon, said: “I saw two explosions. The first one was beyond the finish line. I heard a loud bang and I saw smoke rising. I kept running and I heard behind me a loud bang. It looked like it was in a trash can or something.

“There are people who have been hit with debris, people with bloody foreheads.”

Cherie Falgoust was waiting for her husband, who was running the race. She said: “I don’t know what this building is… it just blew.

“Just a big bomb, a loud boom, and then glass everywhere. Something hit my head. I don’t know what it was. I just ducked.”

Mike Mitchell, of Vancouver, a runner who had finished the race, said he was looking back at the finish line and saw a “massive explosion”. Smoke rose 50ft in the air, he said, and people began running and screaming after hearing the noise.

“Everybody freaked out,” he added.

Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, who was at the marathon finish line hours before the explosions, said: “This is a horrific day.”

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter: “The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific – my thoughts are with all those who have been affected.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: “Appalling news from Boston. All of my thoughts are with the casualties and their families.”